Patient & visitor information

Just ask
If you have any questions about your healthcare, your room, the facility, or our services, just ask your nurse or patient liaison.

We know it can be hard to be away from home — and in a hospital — for any reason. We make sure that we listen to every request or question and then get answers. Talk to us. The goal of every GSWB employee is to make your experience as a patient or visitor as pleasant as possible.

For surgical patients, we will have a greeter on site to welcome you to Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre. Please feel free to leave your belongings in your car as you arrive — we will provide assistance transporting these items into the building.

Admission: Registration hours
Registration hours are communicated to surgery patients prior to their arrival at GSWB.

Visitors
Visitors are often good medicine for patients. Family and friends are encouraged to visit patients during their hospital stay. There may be restrictions, based on the patient’s safety, well-being or medical condition. (See Geisinger's equal visitation policy.)

For the welfare of patients, the nursing staff may request that visitors leave a patient room at any time. Patients may also request the restriction of visitors simply by notifying the nursing staff.

Visitation guidelines

Do not visit the hospital if you have any signs of illness, such as a cough, runny nose or fever. If you are not sure whether it is safe to visit, ask your doctor or one of the nurses caring for the patient you want to visit.

Ask the patient's nurse if it is OK to bring plants or flowers to a patient’s room. In some cases, they can increase the risk for infection for patients.

Visitors may be asked to leave the hospital if they become disruptive or interfere with the comfort or care of patients, other visitors or staff.

Alcohol is not allowed on the GSWB campus.

If you would like to visit a patient in the short stay unit after hours, utilize the call box located outside the main entrance to gain access to the building. Dial 8199 and a representative from the unit will assist you. This number is also posted outside the main entrance for your reference.

Additionally, an escort is available to walk you to and from your vehicle. For this complimentary service, call 570-830-9191, type in the phone number at which you can be reached, and hang up. Our escort will call you back shortly to make arrangements.

PrayerNet
Geisinger PrayerNet is a website offering patients and their families comfort, support and prayer from a network of volunteers around the world. With PrayerNet, it’s easy to request prayer, share your prayer requests with loved ones around the world, or pray for others. The site is free to use, nondenominational and respectful of patient and family privacy.
Tobacco use
Geisinger cares about your health and the health of our employees. The entire Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre campus is a tobacco-free environment.

Weapons policy
For the safety of patients, visitors and employees, Geisinger prohibits the possession or carrying of weapons, firearms/handguns within all Geisinger owned or leased facilities and parking lots, as well as in the performance of all employment duties, including off site patient visits. This prohibition includes private citizens and staff members with carry permits. Lethal weapons are defined as any weapon, firearm, handgun or other device calculated to inflict serious bodily injury or death. Knives with a blade length greater than three inches are considered weapons under this policy.